Carton



Feb 20, 1962 F. PHILLIPS, JR

CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1958 INVENT OR BY a i 39am,

ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1962 F. PHILLIPS, JR

CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1958 wz mmLJ-emgu.

ATTORNEYeS Feb. 20, 1962 F. PHILLIPS, JR

CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 7, 1958 INVENTOR FLOYD L. Pmmvsflfia;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,021,992 CARTON Floyd L. Phillips, Jr., Graham, N.C., assignor to Old Dominion Box Company, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Jan. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 707,595 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to improvements in cartons in which may be packaged household articles such as soap flakes and powders, foodstuffs such as cereals, and tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars or other similar articles.

In order to gain access to the contents of cartons of common construction, it is necessary that the cover or some part of the carton be broken or cut open. When only a portion of the contents of a carton opened in such a manner is used, the remaining contents are more or less exposed to deterioration from moisture, drying, dust and other foreign matter. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved carton which will obviate these and other objectionable features and which, for a reasonable period of time after the carton is opened, will keep the remaining contents in substantially their original condition.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carton which is formed from a single blank of cardboard material which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carton which is more particularly designed as a cigarette package and which is provided with a slidably mounted top wall closure flap adapted to normally close the package ancl to be readily moved to open position by a flick of the thumb while the package is held in one hand to permit the cigarettes to be dispensed therefrom.

It 'is a further object of this invention to slidably mount the top wall closure flap in such a manner that the flap moves substantially parallel to the top wall of the carton when moved from one position to the other.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 641,924, filed on February 25, 1957, now abandoned.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the first form of the invention showing the carton blank for forming the carton therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the carton in partially assembled condition;

FIGURE 3 is another perspective view with portions broken away and showing the carton in a further position of being assembled;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and showing in detail the arrangement of the slidably mounted carton closure flap;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the carton in completely assembled condition with the .closure flap shown in closed position;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 5 with the closure flap shown in open or retracted position to gain access to the contents of the carton;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 5 and showing the arrangement of the flaps forming the bottom wall of the carton;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 88 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the second form of the invention showing the carton blank;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the assembled carton of the second form of the invention with the closure flap in open or retracted position and showing in dotted lines the position of the fingers for holding the carton and the thumb for flicking the closure flap outwardly;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged perspective View with portions broken away to show the manner in which the cigarette wrapper in conjunction with the cigarettes serves as a bottom guide for the closure flap;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the closure flap is frictionally locked in closed position with its free end overlying the proximal end wall;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the third form of the invention showing ribs formed in the side walls of the carton to serve as a bottom guide for the closure fiap;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIGURE 13, with the contents of the cartons removed.

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIGURE 1 wherein the paperboard car-ton blank for forming the first form of the carton is shown, reference numerals 10 and 11 designate the side walls or major walls of the carton which are hingedly connected together by a top wall or flap 12 provided with a substantially frusto-conically shaped cut away portion 13 which serves as an opening for permitting the contents of the carton to be dispensed therethrough. The top wall 12 is also provided with an arcuate cut away portion 14 for reasons shortly to be explained. Bottom wall flaps 15, 16 are hingedly connected to the side walls 11 and 10 respectively and are provided with' a suitable adhesive G for holding the carton in assembled position.

End walls or minor walls 20, 21 are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the side wall 10 and it should be noted that the end wall 20 extends the full length of the-side wall 10 while the wall 21 terminates along a hinge or score line 31. To the end walls 20, 21 are hingedly connected side wall reinforcing flaps 24, 25, respectively. The side wall reinforcing flaps 24, 25 extend the full length of the side walls'll) and 11 butvthe flap 25 is con siderably wider than the flap 24 and has hingedly connected thereto a relatively wide flap 26. The flap 26 serves as a bottom guide for the slidably mounted top closure flap to be explained shortly.

Relatively small bottom wall flaps 22, 23 are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the end walls 20, 21 respectively and terminate substantially co-extensive with the edge of the bottom wall flap 16 as viewed in blank form. It should be noted that the bottom wall flaps 22, 23 are provided with cutaway corner portions 22a, 23a, respectively, to facilitate assembling the carton.

Hingedly connected to the upper end of the end wall 21 along the score or crease line 31 is a relatively short end wall flap 30 which serves in one respect as an extension of the end wall 21. The end wall flap 30 has an arcuate tab portion 32 extending upwardly therefrom which is defined by an irregular or arcuate out line 33 separating the medial portion of the upper edge of the end Wall flap from a closure flap 34. The closure flap 34 is hingedly connected to the flap 30 along score or crease lines 35 which define the side extremities of the arcuate tab portion 32.

Now referring more specifically to FIGURES 2 and 3, the carton blank is asembled by folding the end walls 20, 21 on their crease or score lines at right angles with respect to the side wall 10 and thereafter folding the side wall reinforcing flaps 24, 25 inwardly parallel to the side wall 10. The flap 26 is now folded inwardly to serve as a lower guide for the closure flap 34, which is subsequently folded inwardly thereabove. The folding of therewith. .The end wall 11 is now folded downwardly parallel to the side wall after which the bottom wall flap 15 is adhesively secured to the bottom wall flap 16 to complete the assemblage of the package.

Upon observing FIGURES'4 and 5, it is apparent that the arcuate cutaway edge portion 14 of the top wall 12 by being spaced from the upstanding tab 32 increases the effective length of the same and permits the tab to be more readily engaged to move the top wall closure flap 34 from closed to open position. During the movement of the closure flap 34 from closed to open position, it

, should be noted that the crease or score line 31 serves in effect as a'pivot point in conjunction with score or crease lines 35 to permit the closure flap to 'be retracted while maintaining the closure flap in substantially parallel relation with respect to the top wall 12.

Also, it should be noted that the arcuate cut line 33, in addition to serving to permit the tab 32 to extend in the same plane as the flap 30 at all times, also increases the effective length of the tab by serving to space the medial portion of the outer edge of the closure flap inwardly from the tab. This insures that sufiicient tab portions are exposed to readily permit engagement thereof by a persons thumb for moving the closure flap to open position.

In reciprocating the closure flap 34 from one position to another, it should be noted that the flap 26 engages the bottom surface of the closure flap 34 to thus serve as a bottom guide therefor while the top wall or panel 12 engages the upper surface thereof. Thus, the closure flap 34 is maintained between the upper and lower guides at all times to permit the closure flap to move only in a substantially parallel path of travel with respect to the top wall 12 of the carton.

'Referring now to the second form of the invention shown in FIGURES 9 to 12, this form basically differs functionally over the first form by the omission of a flap to serve as a lower guide for the closure flap. In this form of the invention, the paper wrapper in conjunction with the cigarettes contained therein serve as a lower guide for the closure flap during its sliding movement from one position to another;

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 9 wherein the blank for forming the modified carton is shown, it will be apparent upon comparing this blank with the blank shown in FIGURE. 1, that considerably less paperboard is used to form the modified carton blank. It is also apparent that less waste of paperboard material will result during the cutting of the blanks.

In describing the details of this form of the invention, the same terminology for similar components will be used as heretofore for ease of understanding and comparison. The carton blank shown in FIGURE 9 has crease or score lines defining a pair of parallel rectangularshaped major walls or side wall panels 50, 51 respectively, connected together by a minor wall or end wall panel 52 positioned therebetween. A corresponding minor wall or end wall panel 53 of shorter length is connected to the side of the major wall 50 remote from the minor wall 52. It should be noted that the major walls 50, 51 and minor wall 52 are of substantially the same length with their opposite ends lying in substantially the same respective planes. However, it should be noted that minor wall 52 preferably has its upper end, as indicated at 54, terrmnating slightly below the upper edge of the major walls 50 and 51, a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the paperboard material forming the blank. The reason for this will be explained shortly.

Flaps 55, 56 extend outwardly from corresponding ends of the major walls 50 and 51, respectively, and serve to form a partial top wall when the carton is assembled. Remote end edges of the'fiapsSS, 56 are cutaway in their medial'por tion as indicated at 55a, 56a, respectively, for

- reasons to be explained shortly. Also, the medial portion of the proximal edges of the fiaps 55, 56 may be cut away as indicated at 55b, 56b to define a larger opening in the assembled carton for ease of dispensing cigarettes from the carton.

Flaps 6t '61 extend outwardly from the other ends of the major walls 50, 51, respectively, to form a bottom wall when the carton is assembled. Flaps 62, 63 of preferably wedge shape, when viewed in plan, also extend outwardly from corresponding ends of the minor walls 52, 53, respectively, and serve as reinforcing flaps for the carton bottom wall when the carton is assembled.

A flap 64 is connected to the other end of the shorter minor wall 53 along crease line 65 and has its free end terminating in substantially the same plane as the corresponding ends of the major walls 50, 51. The flap 64 thus serves in one respect as an extension of the minor wall 53. An elongated flap 66 is connected to the flap 64 along spaced apart crease or score lines 67. The flap 66 is shown as having a width of substantially the same as the minor Walls 52, 53 and the flap 64 connected thereto. Also, the flap 66 has a length substantially equal to the width of the major walls 50, 51. An irregular line of cut 68 defines the inner extremities of the crease lines 67 and serves to separate the medial portions of the proximal edges of the flap 64 from the elongated flap 66. Also, the line of cut 68 defines an extension 69 on the flap 64 which serves as a thumb engageabletab when the carton is assembled. An elongated flap 70 is connected to the side of the minor wall 53 and has a length substantially equal to the combined length of the minor wall 53 and the flap 64. The flap 70 servesto enclose the walls of the carton by adhesively joining the major wall 51 as shown in FIGURE 11 when the carton is assembled.

As shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, when the carton blank is properly assembled, the closure flap 66 is positioned below the top wall forming flaps 55, 56 and is guided in its path of movement by the proximal portions of the side or major walls engaging the side edges thereof. In this form of the invention, the cigarette wrapper W in conjunction with the cigarettes C contained therein serve as the bottom guide for the closure flap to insure the flap being moved substantially parallel to the flaps 55, 56 forming the top wall of the carton. This more readily insures the free end of the closure flap 66 being guided onto the upper end 54 of the minor wall 52 to completely close the package as shown in FIGURE 12. As stated earlier the upper end 54 of the minor wall 52 terminates below the plane of the upper edges of the major walls 50, 51 a distance of substantially the same as the thickness of the paperboard material of the blank. Thus, when the closure flap 66 is in closed position as shown in FIGURE 12, the lower surface of the free end is frictionally engaged by the end 54 of the minor wall 52 and the side edges of the closure flap 66 are hidden from view by the major walls 50, 51 to present a neat looking carton.

FIGURE 10 shows the manner in which the assembled carton is held for moving the closure flap 66 to open position by an outward flick of the thumb against the upstanding tab 69. To increase the effective length of the tab 69 and facilitate itsbeing readily engaged by the thumb, is the reason the medial edge portions 55a, 56a of the flaps 55, 56 respectively have been cut away. It will also be seen from FIGURE 10 that after dispensing a cigarette, and without any positional change of the package in the hand of the user, the closure flap 66 may again be closed by the thumb engaging and pressing the end flap 64, thereby moving the closure flap to closed position.

Referring now to the third form of the invention shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, the same reference numerals with the prime notation added identify the same or similar elements as in the second form of the invention. This form of the invention differs from the second form only by the provision of the guide means formed in the side walls of the carton for engaging the closure flap and serving as a bottom guide therefor.

As shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, interior ribs 80, 81 are formed in the major walls 50', 51', respectively, by suitable crease or fold lines. The ribs 80, 81 preferably extend the full width of the major walls and are positioned to engage the lower surface of theclosure flap adjacent its side edges. This arrangement more positively insures movement of the closure flap parallel to the top of the carton to readily position the free end of the closure flap on the upper end 54 of the minor wall 52' to close the carton.

in all described forms of the carton, the top wall closure flap is adapted to normally close the package and to be readily moved to open position by a flick of the thumb while the package is held in one hand for cigarette dispensing. Also, it will be seen that after dispensing a cigarette, and without any positional change of the package in the hand of the user, the closure flap may again be closed by the thumb engaging and pressing the end flap, thereby moving the closure flap to closed position.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth several embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A carton for packaging cigarettes or the like comprising side walls, end walls, top and bottom walls, said top wall having an opening therein adjacent one of said end walls and partially defined thereby, the other end wall remote from said opening in the top wall comprising a panel terminating below the top wall, an end wall flap hingedly connected to the upper end of said panel and having its upper end terminating adjacent the top wall, a thumb engageable tab extending from the upper edge of said end wall flap and in alinement therewith, said top wall having proximal portions thereof spaced inwardly from said tab to increase the efiective length of the tab to facilitate its being engaged, said end wall flap having a width substantially the same as said panel and a slidably mounted closure flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said end wall flap and extending inwardly below the top wall, said closure flap having at least a portion thereof having a width substantially the same as the distance between the side walls to be guided thereby in its movement from one position to another and said closure flap being of sufiicient length to extend inwardly below the top wall to normally close the opening therein.

2. A rectangular-shaped dispensing carton for cigarettes or the like comprising a pair of opposed side Walls, a pair of opposed end walls and a bottom, a top wall, one of said end walls having its upper end terminating below said top wall, a flap hingedly connected to the upper end of said end Wall and being of the same Width as said end wall and swingable about the upper edge of said end wall, the top Wall having a discharge opening therein adjacent the other end wall of a width corresponding to the width of said end wall, an elongated rectangular inner top closure member integrally connected to the up per edge of said swingable flap and extending inwardly in underlying sliding contact with said top wall and being of a length equal to the width of said side walls and a width equal to the width of said end walls to close said discharge opening, said inner top closure member constituting a slidably adjustable closure for said discharge opening, upwardly facing thumb engaging means at the connection of said inner top closure member and said swingable flap whereby upon an outward flick of the thumb the inner top closure member will be slidably moved outwardly to open the carton discharge opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 808,170 Rogers Dec. 26, 1905 1,951,274 Denman Mar. 13, 1934 2,254,608 Heyer Sept. 2, 1941 2,330,926 Rous Oct. 5, 1943 2,387,640 Bouchelle Oct. 23, 1945 2,431,744 Fessenden Dec. 21, 1947 2,510,211 Cleary June 6, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 634,802 Germany Sept. 3, 1936 

